Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith are one of the finest duos to have emerged onto the British folk and acoustic scene in recent years. Their unique ability to make old songs seem relevant and new songs sound ancient has brought them widespread critical acclaim.

The duo’s live performances are a celebration of traditional music but there is also a deep integrity and sincerity that stems from their passion for the social themes within the music. There is a common thread of political struggle, resistance, and justice as well as the occasional love song. Their shows manage to be both hard-hitting and uplifting and it is this ability that justifies their reputation as two of the most exciting musicians and social commentators on the scene.

We are delighted to be hosting The 28th Staveley Roundhouse Annual Art Exhibition this year and after last year’s success, we hope that even more of our very talented local artists will submit their work for sale. Art work must be the original work of the entrants, and not previously exhibited at a Roundhouse Exhibition. Etchings, lino-cuts and other original prints will be welcome, as will some 3D work.Copies and photocopies, decoupage, fabric and similar crafts will not be accepted for exhibition. The Exhibition is open for submissions from residents of the parishes of Ings, Kentmere and Staveley, and to current members of The Roundhouse.

There will be a preview evening on Wednesday 8th October from 7pm – 9.pm to which Roundhouse members, exhibitors and invited guests are welcome .

HUMPS or: Grey Water, Green Eyes is a dark comedy combining both the real and the surreal, filmed locally and using local acting talent it was directed Elliot James Leon. The evening consists of the film screening and question and answer session with the cast and crew. (includes a free glass of wine!)

An aristocratic farmer is performing experiments on a group of wild boar in order to create super-sized carcasses for market. After slaughter, he dumps the remaining drug-infused tissue into a stream that joins nearby Lake Windermere.

Could the farmer's illegal activities be having an adverse effect on the local population of Crescent crested newts?

Fast forward 15 years . When Jeremy Clackhandle a documentary filmmaker receives a tip-off about a Canadian television crew who disappeared when filming at Lake Windermere: he sees it as the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone - Investigate their disappearance and explore the legend of Bownessie, the fabled lake monster.

Members of Green Door, the region’s leading artists’ collective, are returning to Staveley Roundhouse for another weekend of Affordable Art from 30 November 2 December. With more than 200 pieces of work from Green Door artists, work will include paintings, prints, photographs, ceramics, glass, wood, jewellery, textiles and sculpture, all priced at £150 or less. You’ll also find greetings cards smaller items, as well as unique Christmas gifts.

Mishra are a global folk outfit gathering momentum on the UK scene. Their tight web of intricate, Indian-influenced original music defies definition and is already bringing them awards recognition from just under two years of performing. Led by Kate Griffin’s voice and inimitable clawhammer banjo and driven by Ford Collier’s continent-hopping instrumental skills (Indian tabla, African calabash, Irish whistle and guitar), they won Cambridge Folk Festival’s first ever Christian Raphael prize and in separate projects were both shortlisted for the 2018 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards. Until 2019, Mishra performed as a duo under the name Kate Griffin and Ford Collier; now their sound has now been further underpinned by the addition of versatile jazz-folk double-bassist and bouzouki player Joss Mann-Hazell.

'Meet Tommy Atkins' takes the audience not just through Tommy's war, but also his life back home in Britain post war. We learn of his experiences in the trenches - fighting on the Somme, at Passchendaele and Loos; and also of the boredom, the loss and indeed the comradeship. Returning to Britain, Tommy shows us how a generation of returning men were maltreated but how ultimately it was his generation that forced through the foundations of the Welfare State.

From the beginning of the Great War to the end of the Second, Private Tommy Atkins was there.

This is his story.

'Compelling, moving, insightful and believable....beautifully written and performed'

David Reed and John Hiley both grew up in Windermere and were acquainted from an early age. Though at the Grammar School at the same time neither spoke to the other, because boys in long trousers didn’t converse with those in short trousers. They both took part in the annual school G&S productions in the Royalty Cinema, Bowness, annually metamorphosing for a week into leading ladies. Both played, though not simultaneously, the beguiling Phoebe Meryll in the Yeoman of The Guard. David has continued his singing career despite interruptions from his day job as a schoolteacher and is now in great demand as a tenor, which is what it costs for his services. John, meanwhile, pursued a career in high tension, rather like his violin strings, though his high notes now require a safety net. Returning to the Lake District about a decade ago, they did finally speak to each other, forming the FAST Duo in 2013, to bring joy to deprived regions of the British Isles.

Tickets £11 members £12.50 Friends (Ticket price includes a free glass of wine)

Anne-Marie Sanderson's voice is evocative of birds in flight - soaring, gliding, swooping - and it finds its home among the tall trees of her deft guitar work. Describing Anne-Marie's distinctive indie-folk music in these terms is apt; she is an artist who casts a careful eye and attentive ear to the natural world, alternating between wide-eyed wonder and wry observation.

“Her performance is seemingly effortless, underpinned by great technical skill and sensitive use of modern technology to wrap the listener in her meticulously crafted soundscapes.” -

The Ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society are performing a spine-chilling murder mystery, not everyone is perfectly cast and to be honest they could do with some more rehearsals but the show must go on!

Guaranteed to bring the house down (and probably part of the set) this production is a tale of murder, mayhem and mishaps!

(Think any Gothic Horror Story story crossed with The Play that goes Wrong! )

Northern Sky are a Kendal-based band with a growing following in and around Cumbria. The BBC Radio show ‘Introducing’ has selected several of their songs for airplay their song, "Catch The Light" has been featured as "Track of the Week" on BBC Radio Cumbria.

A hostess in the West End ‘gentlemen’s clubs’, Ruth Ellis works hard, plays hard and dreams of a movie-star life. Yet in 1955, the self-styled ‘blonde bombshell’ is convicted of murder and becomes the last woman to be hanged in Great Britain.

Ruth’s crime is re-examined in the light of the society she lived in and the experiences that led to her shooting her lover. Through the eyes of film noir Detective Inspector Gale – and the haunting voice of Billie Holiday – The Thrill of Love explores the enigma of Ruth Ellis: a woman whose short but explosive life still resonates.

The latest show from acclaimed musicians Chris Green and Sophie Matthews takes in 600 years of musical history in 90 minutes! Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending up in the 20th century this fun and fast-moving show is a whistle-stop tour of Western musical history.

Featuring long forgotten songs and tunes (not to mention jokes!) Chris and Sophie paint a vibrant and vivid picture of our musical DNA, mixing the familiar and the obscure, the raucous and the reflective and the courtly and the commonplace.

Complete with a bewildering array of instruments such as hurdy-gurdy, rauschpfeife and vihuela (and that’s just the first 100 years!) ‘A Brief History of Music‘ uses tunes, songs and humour to take you on a musical journey from which you won’t want to return!

Tickets £12.00 members £13.50 Guests (Ticket includes a free glass of wine)

Ewan McLennan has come to be known as a guitarist at the very forefront of his generation; a troubadour, balladeer and storyteller cut in the old style; a singer that can move audiences with his passion and pathos; and a songwriter for whom social justice is still a burning issue.

From a BBC Horizon Award for his debut album to his performances on the iconic Transatlantic Sessions, recent years have been marked by numerous awards and accolades for his music. Ewan McLennan's most recent solo album, 'Stories Still Untold', continued this reception:

'Ewan McLennan has realised his potential on a wonderful album of traditional folk' **** The Telegraph

‘Breaking the Spell of Loneliness is a powerful, poignant set’ **** Guardian

When Enid sadly died last year her daughter Jackie and husband Brian kindly agreed to host our annual quiz night which she ran so brilliantly for many years in her memory.

Join us for an evening of brain-wracking fun with a wide selection of subjects on offer. This year for a change we will be having a home made curry supper served in the middle of the quiz. Bring a bottle of whatever you wish to drink, we will provide glasses (and wash them up).

We have room for 10 teams of 4, or you can book individually and we will put you in a team.

The children are played by adults in this warm, witty and funny play. Mrs Horrocks' class of seven year olds is about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for the proud mums and dads – and the occasional social worker. Squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary, the Star grumbles he's not a proper star like they have at NASA, Herod won't stop waving to his mum and dad and the subver-sive Innkeeper is determined to liven up the traditional script. And then the stick insect escapes…….

Directed by Fliss Pocock

"so funny you only have yourself to blame for not visiting the loo before going in"The Guardian

The High Society Jazz Band return for their annual Christmas thrash. The band always look forward to their visit to The Roundhouse immensely. The music will be very much the mixture as before, with lots of traditional jazz numbers, and the odd Christmas song,

Tickets Members £12.50 Guests £14.50 includes a drink and a mince pie!

Bella Gaffney hails from Bradford. She writes folk inspired songs which she performs along with her own original arrangements of traditional pieces. Bella released her second album 'Heaven Knows' in the summer, and has supported folk luminaries including Jon Boden, Cara Dillon and Altan.

She has appeared at festivals including Celtic Connections, Southwell Folk Festival, Bromyard folk festival, Moseley Folk Festival, Beverley Folk Festival, HebCelt and many more. Bella also performs with Midlands based band Bric-a-Brac.

York-based Polly Bolton first picked up the mandolin as a child and has been touring internationally in various line ups since her early teens. She has performed at festivals including Wilderness, Boomtown Fair, Deer Shed, Festa do Avante! (Portugal), Beverley Folk Festival, Musicport, Towersey and Broadstairs Folk Week, as well as support slots with Tcha Limberger & Mozes Rosenberg, LAU and Hot Club of Cowtown. Polly is endorsed by Eastman™ (www.eastmanguitars.com) and plays an MD815-SB. She is also one third of progressive bluegrass / acoustic trio Stillhouse. Polly & Bella first jammed backstage after a show in York in the autumn of 2017 and the project grew from there. A great musical friendship, they work collaboratively, arranging material led by powerful vocals and glittering instrumental collaboration

A COMMUNITY FILM SCREENING OF THOUGHT PROVOKING, INSPIRING, AMUSING & CREATIVE SHORT FILMS, MADE BY VILLAGE PEOPLE, ABOUT VILLAGE LIFE & BEYOND!!

Organised by locally based Shelley Barlow.

Shelley hopes that people will share their stories of the interesting things they get up to via the medium of film. Open to people who already have a film or would like to make one specially for the event. You can use your camera, tablet or phone to create your own film for 'Staveley Unwrapped'.

There is to be a film making day on the 23rd June 2018 (£35 per person) with Dom Bush, a professional film maker who will help people create their own films and help will be given with editing and preparing the film for viewing.

For more details n how to enter a film or to buy tickets for the event contact Shelley on 07866747685 or email whatsonstaveley@gmail.com. Last date for film entries is the 17th September 2018.

"A great excuse for our community to turn out and celebrate our amazing community!!

Once grande dames of Hollywood, by 1962 arch-rivals Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were in danger of becoming has-beens. Then an opportunity came along; to appear together in a new movie called Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

Bette & Joan depicts the two stars, in adjacent dressing rooms, between takes on the set of Baby Jane. While Joan manages her anxiety by lacing her Pepsi with vodka and signing photographs for her beloved fans, Bette chain smokes and muses on her lovelife, and her ability to pick a decent script, never a decent man.

Behind the bitching and the practical jokes we see each woman's insecurities and regrets, and their rivalry is revealed to be underpinned by grudging respect as they attempt to identify their new roles in life as well as in their careers.

Directed by Graham Edwards

Tickets Tickets members £11 Guests £12.50 (price includes a free glass of wine)

Keen to boost his flagging career, Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but a sleepy Suffolk village and the cast are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre. Jefferson’s monstrous ego is tested to the limit by the enthusiastic am-dram thespians. As acting worlds collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself – along with his inner Lear!

Piano maestro Keith Nichols makes his third visit to the Roundhouse - one of his favourite venues and favourite pianos, he tells us (but maybe he says that to all the girls). This time he is teamed with two other musicians who already have a much longer association with our theatre - Steve Andrews (saxophone and clarinet) and Roy Cansdale (double bass). Quite apart from the quality music these three will produce, Keith and Steve are both famed for their witticisms and depth of musical knowledge, so we can expect to be amused as well as entertained. Try not to miss this one!

Taking the audience on a musical journey around the World, English instrumental duo The Hut People (Sam Pirt and Gary Hammond) have firmly established themselves as one of THE most unique, entertaining and best-loved acts on the UK folk scene today.Mixing global rhythms with folk tunes from Quebec to Spain, Scandinavia to Sussex and everywhere in between, this is a quirky celebrationof our rich musical heritage – and it works so well!This is a show like nothing you’ve ever seen before – expect feel-good dancing tunes, audience participation, step dancing, Quebecois foot-percussion (whilst playing the accordion!) and humour aplenty.

The Busquitos provide a very catchy mix of brilliantly played music together with some dazzling, funny entertainment that will put a smile on everyone’s face! The fun they have playing their music rubs off on their audiences. Come and sing along to one of their catchy jazzy tunes. Musical entertainment for all ages!

The Busquitos have proven their skills on the streets, parties, pubs and big stages at international jazz festivals. They performed in Holland, Belgium, Germany, The UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy and Turkey, as well as a two weeks tour in South-Korea!

Four-Play

A one act play by Colin Smith

David and Caroline are hosting a dinner party but David has a secret. Once the cat is out of the bag there is no way to stop the evening developing into a battleground of recriminations, explanations and cruel home truths.

What’s for Pudding?

A one act play by David Tristram

Mary and Jack have a marriage lacking in magic. Their usual boring Saturday evening is suddenly changed by the unexpected arrival of friends, Maureen and Ted. The whisky bottle is uncorked and soon inhibitions begin to fall away. Neighbour Dennis also innocently joins the mayhem which unfolds.

These play dates have been rescheduled from February 5th to 8th due to one of the cast suffering a bereavement.

Pianist and entertainer, Peter Gill presents a tribute to the wit and song-writing skill of that most English of Englishmen, Noel Coward, who said of himself I am an enormously talented man and there is no pointin denyingit. Born in 1899, Coward was an actor, writer, composer, director, producer, and in later life painter– and he excelled at them all. Peter will remind us of his dazzling wit and perform such gems as A Bar on The Piccola Marina, Don’t Let’s Be Beastly To The Germans, Mrs Worthington, There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner and Mad Dogs & Englishmen.

Members £12.50 Guests £14.50 Ticket includes a free cocktail! BOOK HERE

'A splendid evening's entertainment'The Noel Coward Society

'Just to say thanks for a great evening with Noel Coward yesterday. The music and stories were both superbly done and everyone really enjoyed themselves.' The Holsworthy Theatre

Previously natives of Cumbria but now residing in East Yorkshire, Jessica Lawson & Phil Simpson sing and accompany themselves on autoharp, acoustic guitar, mandolin and melodeon. Their original songs reflect a background in folk music and a love of Americana; singing stories about the sea, love, loss, and a few ‘fallen’ women.

The duo’s notoriety on the folk scene took hold when Jessica’s debut EP, Molly of the Tyne, was released in 2011 on Paper Plane Records. They have been in demand at festivals and concerts across the UK and Europe ever since and their reputation continues to grow. Jessica and Phil have performed a number of high profile and exciting shows, alongside Eddi Reader, Cara Dillon and Barbara Dickson to name but a few.

With this quintessential Victorian Christmas classic Green Matthews bring you a brand-new retelling of the most thrilling Yuletide adventure of them all – Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. First published in 1843, the story is credited with reinventing and reinvigorating the British Christmas and has been loved by every generation since. Using new lyrics and traditional English folk tunes, GreenMatthews (with special guest Jude Rees of Pilgrims’s Way) use a bewitching blend of voices and instruments to create a musical retelling of this seasonal favourite.

Hard Times is a classic tale from the pen of Charles Dickens, the master story teller. It is a tale of loss, love, pride before a fall and a deepening divide between rich and poor. Sound familiar?!

17 actors, playing multiple parts, sing, dance and tell a story full of pathos, humour and intrigue, all accompanied by original music. It reveals a society in turmoil, as relevant today as it was back in the 1860s. NOW SOLD OUT!

Tickets £11 members £12.50 Guests (Tickets include a free glass of wine)

This hilarious rompis set in Brighton in the 1960s and follows the romantic and lustful ambitions of the apparently respectable Wicksteed family. With a succession of characters ranging from a rampant doctor and a randy vicar to a frustrated flat-chested spinster and a baffled domestic cleaner, this rollicking tale is as saucy and English as a seaside postcard.

...'Habeas Corpus' has all the ingredients of a classic farce, spiced with the warmth and humanity of Alan Bennett's razor-sharp wit."

Keith’s first appearance at the Roundhouse last year is unlikely to be forgotten by those who attended and were duly dazzled by his skills as a pianist and raconteur. This time Keith will be partneredby clarinetist Trevor Whiting, making up a duo who work together very frequently. Trevor, as well as being recognised as one of the best clarinet players in any style inEurope, is immersed in and very knowledgeable about early jazz. Apart from his work with Keith and freelance appearances all over the country Trevor is the first call reed player for the legendary ChrisBarber. We can expect to be regaled by a variety of anecdotes from the fascinating annals of jazz in the USA and UK. There will be musical fireworks of the highest caliber.

Trevor may well be playing a clarinet once owned by the writer, from which he produces sounds undreamt of by me, and Keith is very comfortable with the Roundhouse piano, which issimilar to his own home instrument. This duo will be a real treat for the ears in our wonderful acoustic. Bruce Carnaffin

Veteran pianist Tim Belford, who played in the very first Steve Andrews quartet performance at the Roundhouse many years ago (and many more subsequently) died last year. His legacy to jazz in Cumbria was immense, spanning big bands in Carlisle, a long spell with the semi-legendary Mick Potts Gateway Jazz Band, and an even longer one with Bruce Carnaffin’s Mainline Jazz. That band included Steve Andrews in its original line-up, leading to Steve making the far-from-difficult choice of Tim as his pianist when he formed his Quartet, which performed frequently at Carlisle Jazz Club and of course the Roundhouse. Tim very quickly became a favourite performer here, displaying his endless invention and wit at the keyboard in a completely un-flashy way, as befits a man who was known for his good humour and modesty. We’re pleased that his widow Liz has accepted our invitation to attend this concert in Tim’s honour, and the band is composed of musicians who played with him on many occasions. Apart from Steve on whichever selection of reed instruments he chooses from his vast collection, you will hear Roy Cansdale on double bass (making a rare visit from Gloucestershire), Roly Veitch on guitar and Euan Pringle on drums: all people who played regularly with Tim in Carlisle and elsewhere. This will be a special night in memory of a special man. Tickets £14.50 Members £12.50 Price includes a free glass of wine!BOOK HERE

"Darkly comic, tongue-in-cheek, and highly imaginative, a Psychiatrist decides to make every decision by following options given to the dice. As he delves further into giving up responsibility for his actions, and introduces a patient to the same idea, mayhem ensues and the rules become twisted..."After performances in the Edinburgh Festival, and tours to USA, Israel, Hong Kong, Africa, Central America and sell-out shows in Australia recently, this funny, gripping and thoroughly entertaining ‘play with movement’ comes to Staveley. Tickets £14.50 Members £12.50 Price includes a free glass of wine!

This comedy classic features cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine who is researching the occult for his new novel. The sceptical author invites an eccentric clairvoyant, Madame Arcati to his house for an elegant dinner party. While consumed in a trance, she unwittingly conjures up the ghost of Charles’ deceased first wife, the rather naughty Elvira.

Elvira soon upsets his new wife, the straight-laced and super-rational Ruth. If Charles wants his latest marriage to stand a chance, he’d better conjure up a solution... and fast!

BLITHE SPIRIT is a play full of laughs and love, mischievous ghosts and sparkling wit. Come and be spirited away by this delightful comedy by The Master – Noël Coward. Tickets £12.50, members £11.00 (click on date to book. A booking fee applies) or ring 015395 61076

Last July ,a vibrant festival of plays commissioned by Kendal Community Theatre took to the streets of Kendal. A total of 58 new 15-minute plays penned by writers of all ages, were performed several times by local actors over one week in various locations throughout the town. The festival culminated in a gala performance in Kendal Town Hall when one play chosen by each of the directors was performed.Come and see six of the best of these short plays in one evening!

Directed by Jayne Davies and Emma Rucastle

Kendal Community Theatre was founded in 2011 by six dedicated people. Since A Passion for Kendal was performed on the streets of Kendal in 2012, they have commissioned new work and produced a range of exciting plays. They are committed to experiment in types of theatre and a variety of spaces.

Tickets £11 Adults,£10 Members,£5 Children (Click on date below to book a booking fee applies) or ring 015395 61076

Set against a world of one night gigs this gritty comedy reveals the highs and lows of performing on the club circuit in the north of England. A karaoke competition brings together seasoned pro, Vince Steel, and talented beginner, Teena White in an explosion of talent and creativity.

With a sensational mix of classic pop songs as a soundtrack to their journey, Teena and Vince’s tenuous relationship unfolds along the way.